Leptospermum riparium

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Riverine tea-tree
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Leptospermum
Species:
L. riparium
Binomial name
Leptospermum riparium

Leptospermum riparium, commonly known as riverine tea-tree, [2] is a species of straggling shrub that is endemic to Tasmania. It has flaky bark, crowded, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant when mature. It grows on river banks in rainforest.

Contents

Description

Leptospermum riparium is a straggly shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) or more and has flaky bark. The leaves are mostly glabrous, lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, usually 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide, the base tapering to a thin petiole. The flowers are white, 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide and arranged on the ends of leafy side branches. There are reddish-brown bracts and bracteoles at the base of the flower buds but that usually fall off before the flower opens. The floral cup is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long with triangular sepals about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. The petals are 8 or 9 mm (0.31 or 0.35 in) long and the stamens about 4 m (13 ft) long. Flowering mainly occurs in January and the fruit is a capsule 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) wide with the remains of the sepals attached and that remains on the plant at maturity. [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptospermum riparium was first formally described in 1974 by Tasmanian botanist Dennis Ivor Morris in Records of the Queen Victoria Museum, based on specimens he collected near the bridge over the Huon River in the Tahune Forest Park. [6] [7] [8] The specific epithet (riparium) is from a Latin word meaning "inhabiting river banks". [9]

Distribution and habitat

The riverine tea-tree grows along major rivers in rainforest of southern and eastern Tasmania. [3] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Leptospermum</i> Genus of shrubs

Leptospermum is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the myrtle family Myrtaceae commonly known as tea trees, although this name is sometimes also used for some species of Melaleuca. Most species are endemic to Australia, with the greatest diversity in the south of the continent, but some are native to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and Southeast Asia. Leptospermums all have five conspicuous petals and five groups of stamens which alternate with the petals. There is a single style in the centre of the flower and the fruit is a woody capsule.

<i>Leptospermum laevigatum</i> Species of plant

Leptospermum laevigatum, commonly known as the coast tea tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to south-eastern Australia, but has been widely introduced in other places where it is often considered to be a weed. It has thin, rough bark on the older stems, narrow egg-shaped leaves, relatively large white flowers and flat topped fruit that is shed shortly after reaching maturity.

<i>Leptospermum petersonii</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum petersonii, commonly known as lemon-scented teatree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thin, fibrous or flaky bark, often strongly-scented elliptic to lance-shaped leaves, white flowers and fruit that are retained for several years. It is commonly grown as an ornamental and is regarded as a minor environmental weed in some areas.

<i>Leptospermum lanigerum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum lanigerum, commonly known as the woolly teatree, is a small tree or medium shrub from the plant family Myrtaceae. Its common name derives from the conspicuously hairy capsules produced as fruit, along with the fine, silky hairs present on branches and leaves. L. lanigerum is widespread in many habitats, particularly in waterlogged areas such as moist, sandy coastal heaths, on river banks, riparian scrub, woodlands and on the fringe of montane grasslands. This species is endemic to Australia, with native populations occurring in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.

<i>Leptospermum trinervium</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum trinervium, commonly known as flaky-barked tea-tree, slender tea-tree or paperbark tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has papery bark that is shed in thin, flaking layers, narrow elliptic to broadly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower at the base, white flowers and silky-hairy fruit that falls from the plant when mature.

<i>Leptospermum nitidum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum nitidum, commonly known as shiny tea-tree, is a species of compact shrub that is endemic to Tasmania. It has crowded, aromatic, elliptical leaves, white flowers about 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter and fruit that remain on the plants until it is burned or dies.

<i>Leptospermum turbinatum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum turbinatum, commonly known as shiny tea-tree, is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to the Grampians and nearby ranges in Victoria, Australia. It has thin, rough bark, elliptical to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remains on the plant at maturity.

<i>Leptospermum polygalifolium</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum polygalifolium, commonly known as tantoon, jellybush or yellow tea tree, is a species of shrub or tree of the family Myrtaceae that is endemic to eastern Australia, including Lord Howe Island. It has thin bark, elliptical leaves, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit that remain on the plant for a few years.

<i>Leptospermum rotundifolium</i> Species of tree

Leptospermum rotundifolium, commonly known as round-leaved tea tree, is a species of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales, naturalised in Victoria and Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with more or less circular leaves but with a small point on the tip, and relatively large pink or white flowers.

<i>Leptospermum glaucescens</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum glaucescens, commonly known as the blue-green tea tree or smoky tea tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has elliptical to egg-shaped leaves that are often greyish green, white flowers about 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter arranged in consecutive leaf axils and fruit that remain on the plant for some time after maturity.

<i>Leptospermum arachnoides</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum arachnoides, commonly known as the spidery tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough bark, crowded linear to lance-shaped leaves with a sharp point on the end, white flowers and hairy fruit.

<i>Leptospermum parvifolium</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum parvifolium, commonly known as lemon-scented tea-tree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thin, rough bark, egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white or pink flowers, and fruit with the remains of the sepals attached but that is shed when the seeds are mature.

<i>Leptospermum emarginatum</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum emarginatum, commonly known as the twin-flower tea-tree or twin flower teatree, is a species of shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has rough bark on the older stems, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and a small notch at the tip, white flowers in groups of up to five and hemispherical fruit that falls off when mature.

<i>Leptospermum namadgiense</i> Australian species of plant

Leptospermum namadgiense is a species of small shrub that is endemic to areas near the border between New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has silky-hairy, narrow lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, usually white flowers borne singly or in pairs on short side shoots, and fruit that falls from the plant shortly after the seeds are released.

<i>Leptospermum petraeum</i> Species of flowering plant

Leptospermum petraeum is a rigid, spreading plant that is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It has thin, flaky bark, young stems that are hairy at first, aromatic, elliptical leaves, relatively large white flowers and fruit that remain on the plant until it dies.

<i>Leptospermum polyanthum</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum polyanthum is a rigid, spreading shrub or small tree that is endemic to New South Wales. It has thin, rough bark, young stems that are hairy at first, elliptical leaves, relatively small white flowers and fruit are shed when the seeds are mature.

<i>Leptospermum purpurascens</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum purpurascens, commonly known as the purple-stemmed turkey bush, is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to far north Queensland. It has bark that is purple when new, elliptical to broadly lance-shaped leaves, relatively small white flowers arranged in pairs and small fruit that falls from the plants when the seeds are released.

Leptospermum speciosum is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has pale bark that is shed in strips, broadly lance-shaped to elliptical leaves, white flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to three in leaf axils, and small, woody fruit that falls off when mature.

<i>Leptospermum whitei</i> Species of shrub

Leptospermum whitei is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has fibrous, flaky bark, elliptical leaves, white flowers arranged in small groups on the ends of short side branches, and fruit that falls from the plant when mature.

<i>Leptospermum wooroonooran</i> Species of tree

Leptospermum wooroonooran, commonly known as wurunuru or mountain teatree, is a species of stunted tree that is endemic to Queensland where it grows on exposed mountain ridges. It has thin, fibrous or flaky bark, lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, white flowers arranged singly on short side shoots and fruit remain on the plant at maturity.

References

  1. "Leptospermum riparium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  2. "Leptospermum riparium". The Understorey Network. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 434–435. doi: 10.7751/telopea19894902 .
  4. Williams, Simon (2018). A Beekeper's Guide to Australian Leptospermum Trees and Honey (PDF). Agrifutures. pp. 129–130. ISBN   9781925476101 . Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Leptospermum riparium". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  6. "Leptospermum riparium". APNI. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. Morris, Dennis (1974). "Recent additionsto the Tasmanian flora and some notes on nomenclature". Records of the Queen Victoria Museum Launceston. 50: 2–3. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. "Morris, Dennis Ivor (1924 - 2005)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 484.